Suncrest Nurseries Inc. Mints Large and Small These days it is hard to imagine a California garden without a good representation of the mint family. Yet the mint craze is a recent development. As late as the mid-1980s, salvia meant, to most gardeners, one of a few forms of the tropical S. splendens or the kitchen sage, S. officinalis. One might have grown a teucrium or two, perhaps lamb s ears (Stachys byzantina) or one of a few thymes for ground cover and of course peppermints and basils and oreganos for culinary use. Now every studious gardener will be familiar with dozens of ornamental salvias, several of each of the other major genera, and perhaps a few members of groups nearly unknown a decade ago, like Orthosiphon and Trichostema. This change is a result of enthusiastic efforts, initially by just a handful of dedicated fans, and of a growing awareness by the gardening public that few other garden plants offer so much enjoyment for so little effort. There are mints such as the larger salvias and phlomis, adept at filling broad spaces with lush and beautifully textured foliage. Greys and soft greens are among their particular specialties. Other groups, including many thymes, make flowing carpets that are beautiful creating a foil for larger plants as well as useful in covering bare ground and reducing erosion. Some, like the lavenders, are legendary for the fragrance of their leaves. Still others offer flowers as colorful and abundant as one can find anywhere in the plant world from the brilliant blues and reds of Central American salvias to the golds and soft lavenders of the phlomis to the wild oranges of Leonotis. Culture All of these features come at little cost to the gardener, either initially for purchase of the plants or later, in their upkeep. Sun-loving plants seem to dominate the group, but there are Asian and American salvias, and a good assortment of other mints, quite at home in shady nooks. Some species come from rocky or sandy soils and may demand good soil drainage in the garden. Others are adaptable to a wide variety of garden soils. Watering needs span the full gamut from near-marsh conditions to an actual preference for summer drought. Nutrient needs are usually low; many mints respond to generous fertilizing with loose, brittle growth. Other items of maintenance are usually few and simple. Plants with real masses of flowers and flowering stems need to be pruned or sheared back for good appearance after the flowers fade. This often has the added advantage of stimulating new rounds of growth and flowers. As you might expect from a family distributed from the tropics to near-alpine settings, it is impossible to generalize the hardiness of the mints. Even the warmer-growing types, including several salvias, may have underground structures that permit them to recover after destruction of above-ground stems and leaves by a hard freeze. Of all the things for which I might fault the mints, the only one of real consequence is that many are short-lived. These same plants, however, are often shockingly easy to restart from seeds and cuttings. There are also mints that might easily outlive the gardener, forming gnarled, ancient-looking trunks in the process. One is the common rosemary. Mints and Suncrest Nurseries If I begin to sound like a shameless promoter of the mint family, I cheerfully confess it. Most of my gardening friends seem to suffer the same affliction, and among us, we keep a more or less constant stream of new mints pouring through the gates of Suncrest (Ginny Hunt, in particular, has foisted dozens of fine salvias, agastaches, teucriums and phlomis on us). Over the past several years we have moved beyond the basics of procurement and trial. Combining the patient hybridizing efforts of Patrick Worley and seedling selections in the field, we have launched our own series of hybrids emphasizing fuller form, garden tolerance, and a much-expanded range of flower colors and color combinations. Several of these are already making a serious contribution to the California gardening scene. Please watch our listings for these and many more to come. MNS Name Plant Type Culture/Description AGASTACHE Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Sun, well-drained soil, moderate watering, hardy to 0 deg. or less aurantiaca Soft orange fls. on 2 stems, low light green aromatic lvs. Blue Fortune To 2. Purple flushed leaves, dense heads of blue fls. Burning Bright S. Slender stems; bright coral red fls. A. rupestris hyb. cana To 2, branching. Clusters of 1" purplish-pink flowers. Electra PPAF S. 2 +. Light grey-green lvs; clouds of vivid orange flowers. mexicana Sangria Fl. stems to 4 ; rosy red fls. Lemon scented leaves. Rose Flash S. 3-4 +. Carmine buds open to bright rosy flowers. Rosy Giant S intro, 5 +. Sturdy stems, dense heads of rose pink fls. Ruby Spires PPAF S. 3-4. A. cana hyb. Rich carmine fls, red violet buds. rugosa Heronswood Mist 3. Aromatic dark green lvs; dense deep blue purple spikes. Salmon Sparkle 2. Masses of soft salmon flowers age pink. Summer bloom. Shimmering Clouds Bushy, to 2 ; fragrant leaves, copper buds, deep pink fls. Summer Sparkle S hybrid. Bright rose pink flowers over aromatic leaves. Wildfire S intro. Bushy, to 2-3 ; large bright coral red flowers.
AJUGA Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Sun/shade, most soils, moderate watering, hardy to 0degreptans Catlin s Giant Ajuga; vigorous, profuse; huge bronze leaves. reptans Jungle Beauty Bugleweed; 1 high, 4" round leaves & bronze tint. BALLOTA Plant Type(s): Shrubs Full sun, well-drained soil, drought tolerant, hardy to 10 deg. or less pseudodictamnus 18"h/w. Dense mound. White flowers, furry grey-green lvs. LAMIASTRUM Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Light shade, most soils, moderate watering, hardy to 0 deg. or less galeobdolon Yellow archangel; trailing; silvery leaves, yellow fls. galeobdolon Herman s Pride Trailing perennial. Silver-patterned leaves, yellow flowers. LAMIUM Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Light shade, most soils, keep moist, hardy to 0 deg. or less maculatum Pink Pewter Shade groundcover. Silver leaves, light pink flowers. LAVANDULA Plant Type(s): Shrubs Full sun, well-drained soil, drought tolerant, hardy to 0deg- angustifolia English lav; 2 mound. Fragrant, lavender flowers, grey lvs. angustifolia Graves 2-3. Violet flowers on long stems. Nicely fragrant. angustifolia Hidcote Superior Under 1 ; bright grey leaves, dark purple flowers. angustifolia Martha Roderick 1-1/2, dense; very aromatic; bright lavender flowers. angustifolia Mitcham Gray 1-1/2, bright grey leaves; deep violet blue fls. angustifolia Royal Velvet Compact mound to 2. Fragrant lvs; violet flowers. angustifolia Sachet Dwarf lavender. Bright blue violet flowers, aromatic. angustifolia Twickel Purple Low grey mound; fl. stems to 2, bright dark violet fls. Goodwin Creek Grey Bushy habit. Bright grey leaves. Disease resistant. x intermedia Fred Boutin Low, bushy; large grey leaves, typical lavender flowers. x intermedia Grosso Dense, shrubby. Grey-green lvs,1-2 stems, dk lavender fls. x intermedia Provence Hybrid lavender. Bushy, grey, fragrant. Stems to 3 +. Lisa Marie 1. Soft grey lvs. Fragrant brt lavender fls. Ken Montgomery hyb. Silver Frost 2 +. Thick white leaves, dense growth, bright lav.-blue fls. stoechas Blue Star Spanish lavender. Deep indigo flowers, smaller flags. stoechas Otto Quast Upright, dense. Dark bracts, dark lavender flowers. stoechas Wings of Night Bushy, to 2 +; grey leaves, large/dark flower bracts. stoechas ssp. pedunculata Avonview 2 +. Spanish lavender, long fl. stems, purple bracts. LEONOTIS Plant Type(s): Shrubs Full sun, well-drained soil, drought tolerant, hardy to 20-25deg SA leonurus Lion s tail; 6 ; bright orange flower clusters in fall. LEPECHINIA Plant Type(s): Shrubs Full sun, well-drained soil, moderate watering, hardy to 15deghastata 6 ; large fuzzy, fragrant leaves; lavender-rose flowers. MONARDA Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Sun/light shade, well-drained soil, moderate watering, hardy to 0 deg. punctata Pale pink bracts under heads of spotted creamy fls. MONARDELLA Plant Type(s): Perennials, Shrublets Sun/lt shade, well-drained soil, drought tolerant, hardy to 15 deg. or less linoides ssp. viminea Slender shrublet. Heads of bright violet fls, aromatic lvs. macrantha Marian Sampson Scarlet monardella; shiny-leaved mat; large red tube fls. villosa Coyote mint. 12" shrublet. Lavender fls in dense heads. villosa var. obispoensis Coyote mint. Shrublet; furry, aromatic lvs; lavender fls. villosa x purpurea Coyote mint; 1,bright green leaves, purple fl. heads. NEPETA Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Full sun, well-drained soil, moderate watering, hardy to 10degx faassenii Catmint; 1 mound; grey-green leaves, lavender flowers. x faassenii Blue Wonder Catmint; low grey-green mound; purple flowers. x faassenii Snowflake Catmint. 1 mound. Grey-green aromatic lvs, white fls. x faassenii Walker s Low Catmint. 1 mound. Grey-green aromatic lvs, lav-blue fls. Six Hills Giant Catmint. Similar to N. x faassenii, larger. ORIGANUM Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Sun, well-drained soil, moderate/occ. watering, hardy to 10 deg. or less
dictamnus Round hairy lvs; pendant rose pink bracts, fls. Clumping. Green Goddess Densely matting; nodding creamy bracts, fl. stems to 12". Marshall s Memory Low mound. Dark leaves, sprays of purplish pink. microphyllum hybrid To 1 +, upright. Tiny leaves, lavender-pink flowers. Norton Gold Low mats of golden foliage, clusters of red violet fls. Rose Beauty 8"+. Mats of aromatic stems, wide rosy bracts. rotundifolium Matting, with round leaves, large pale green bracts. Santa Cruz Clumps to 1 +. Airy sprays, pink bracts, lavender fls. Virginia Saso Matting. Round leaves; large rose bracts with flowers. White Anniversary Low mound with broad cream-variegated leaves, white fls. PEROVSKIA Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Full sun, well-drained soil, moderate/occ. watering, hardy to 0degabrotanoides Russian sage; 3 ; cut grey leaves, lavender flowers. Filigran To 3, bushy. Dissected leaves, lavender-blue flowers. Longin 2 +. Furry purple flower calyx, lavender fls., grey leaves. PHLOMIS Plant Type(s): Perennials, Shrubs Full sun, most soils, drought tolerant, hardy to 10deg- cretica 18"h/3 w. Fuzzy yellowish leaves, bright yellow fls. fruticosa Jerusalem sage; 4 +; large fuzzy leaves, yellow flowers. lanata To 3 +h. Furry stems & 1" leaves. Orange-yellow fls. monocephala To 4, dense. Golden leaves; yellow flowers. purpurea To 5, bushy. Grey-green lvs, lavender pink fls. taurica Green basal leaves. Pink fls on 2 stems. Perennial. PROSTANTHERA Plant Type(s): Shrubs baxteri Lavender Moon ovalifolia "excellent purple" ovalifolia Variegata phylicifolia rotundifolia Rosea species/unidentified Sun, well-drained soil, moderate watering, hardy to 20-25 deg.f. UCSC/Koala. 2. Silver needle leaves; lavender fls. Mint bush. To 5 +, dense. Fragrant lvs; bright purple fls. Mint bush. To 5 +. Cream-variegated lvs., bright purple fls. Mint bush. Dark, narrow leaves, violet flowers. Mint bush; 4. Dense, small round fragrant leaves, pink fls. Bushy, aromatic shrub; dark narrow leaves, purple fls. PRUNELLA Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Sun/shade, most soils, moderate watering, hardy to 0deggrandiflora Loveliness 8"+. Lilac blue flowers held over spreading mats. grandiflora Pagoda Violet Lush dark green mats; short, dense flower spikes. laciniata To 1. Low clumps, violet flowers, dissected leaves. ROSMARINUS Plant Type(s): Shrubs Full sun, well-drained soil, drought tolerant, hardy to 15deg- officinalis Blue Spire 5 h/4 w. Upright, branching at base. Medium blue flowers. officinalis Collingwood Ingram 2-3 h/4 w. Flowers rich, bright blue-violet. off. Huntington Blue ( H. Carpet ) 18"h/6 w. Pale blue flowers. Groundcover. Fragrant leaves. officinalis Irene USPP#9124 1 h/6 w. Trailing, prostrate habit. Blue-violet flowers. officinalis Ken Taylor 18"h/8 w. Trailing. Deep blue. Center remains dense. officinalis Tuscan Blue Rosemary; 4, bushy; dark blue flowers. SALVIA Plant Type(s): Perennials, Shrubs Sun/lt shade, well-drained soil, moderate/occ. water, hardiness varies Allen Chickering Native hybrid sage; 4 +; grey leaves, lavender flowers. apiana White sage. Short branches, nearly white lvs, tall fl. stem. argentea Huge white furry leaves; creamy flowers on 2 stem. azurea var. grandiflora 2-3 ; slender stems; greyish leaves; true blue flowers. Bee s Bliss Broad carpet; fragrant grey-green leaves, lavender flowers. blepharophylla Bushy, upright to 2 +. Dark foliage, bright red flowers. brandegei Pacific Blue CA sage with dark green leaves, light blue fls. 5 h/w. Bright Eyes PPAF S. 2 +. Very large deep red fls, white eye. Greggii type. buchananii To 2 +; dark, shiny leaves; deep magenta flowers. Byron Flynt To 6, S. mexicana hybrid. Deep purple fls. midsummer-fall. caespitosa 1 rounded shrublet. Divided grey-green lvs, soft pink fls. chamaedryoides Low, bushy; small grey leaves, bright blue flowers. chiapensis Low, compact; shiny leaves, dark magenta flowers.
Christine Yeo clevelandii Deer Spring Silver corrugata Costa Rica Blue Dancing Dolls PP#19820 Dancing Embers PPAF Dancing Lights PPAF Dancing Shadows PPAF Dara s Choice Dark Dancer dolomitica Fancy Dancer PPAF Fire Dancer PPAF Flamenco Rose PPAF fruticosa Golden Girl PPAF Golden Ruffles TM greggii Furman s Red greggii Moonlight greggii Purple Pastel greggii white guaranitica guaranitica Black and Blue heldreichiana Indigo Spires x jamensis Cienega de Oro x jamensis Coral Sunrise x jamensis Sierra San Antonio jurisicii leucantha purple-flowered form leucophylla Amethyst Bluff leucophylla Figueroa melissodora mexicana Limelight microphylla Cerro Potosi microphylla Hot Lips microphylla pink muelleri nemorosa Caradonna Neon Dancer PPAF Nuevo Leon officinalis Berggarten officinalis Icterina officinalis Purpurea Orchid Glow PPAF pachyphylla Pozo Blue prunelloides purpurea regla Royal reptans (S. leptophylla) roemeriana Scarlet Spires semiatrata Shell Dancer PP#20680 Shirley s Creeper sinaloensis sonomensis Fremont s Carpet SA 2 +. Textured green lvs; blue purple fls. Dense, spreads. 4-5. Aromatic grey lvs; bright blue fls., summer. 4-6. Dark green lvs, rusty undersides. Deep blue flowers. 5 +; broad, dark leaves, spikes of bright blue flowers. S intro; clouds of rose & cream fls, dark stems. Greggii type. S. Dark shiny leaves, huge hot red fls, dark stems. S. Microphylla type has vivid rose red & light pink fls. S. Painted icy pink and white flowers, red violet stems. 18"+h/3 +w. Carpeting. Green leaves, lav-blue flowers. WGN. Bushy, with large, vivid plum purple fls. To 5. Oval silvery leaves; large mauve pink fls. S. Creamy pink & raspberry flowers, compact. Greggii type. S. Bushy greggii type. Large coral-red flowers. S. Microphylla type. Bushy, very large bright pink fls. To 2. Light green, aromatic lvs, light blue fls. in spring. S. Very compact. Bright golden yellow fls, greggii type. S. Greggii type. Dark calyx, many ruffled yellow fls. Selection with deep, glowing red flowers. WGN selection; dense, with moonlight-yellow fls. To 18"h/2 +w. Many dark lavender purple flowers. 2 +, bushy; small oval leaves, many white flowers. Bushy, to 4 +. Textured leaves, large bright blue flowers. Upright stems to 4 +, dark blue fls. set on black stems. Low grey lvs; 2 + stems w/bright blue purple fls. spring. 3. Long spikes of dark blue purple fls. summer-fall. 2 +. Sage. Masses of bright yellow flowers. 3. Bushy. Deep coral fls.turn pale coral. Near-black stems. Sage. Many flowers of soft orange & moonlight yellow. Low mound w/ finely divided lvs, lavender blue or pink fls. Mexican sage; white stems, rosy buds, purple flowers. SBBG intro. 2 h/6 w; grey, furry lvs., bright lavender fls. 3-4. Native sage. White leaves. Pink flowers. Bushy, to 6. Green foliage, grape-scented lavender flowers. To 6 +, bushy. Lg. dark leaves, bright blue fls, lime calyx. Bushy, to 2. Bright magenta red fls, long bloom. Bushy, to 3. Small dark lvs, red and white fls. Bushy, 2-3. Small dark leaves, pink flowers. Like S. greggii in form, leaf; profuse purple flowers. 1-2. Dark blue flowers with dark stems. S. Bushy greggii type, wild purplish-red flowers. Like S. greggii in form, smaller lvs; many blue purple fls. Sage; spreading, 6-10"h, aromatic leaves. Kitchen sage. Matting. Yellow leaf margins. Kitchen sage. To 12"h x 3 w. New leaves purple. S. Large vivid purplish magenta fls. Microphylla type. 3. Silver leaves; heads w/rose bracts, deep blue flowers. Clevelandii hybrid, to 4 +. Fragrant lvs, lavender blue fls. 1. Round green leaves; blue purple fls. on spikes. 6 +. Lush green lvs; spikes of dark lavender fls. in fall. Bushy, with textured lvs, bright orange-red fls. in fall. To 2 +; slender leaves & dark stems; dark blue flowers. Charming Texas native; 1 h/2 w, sprays of red flowers. 2-3. Bright red flowers, summer to fall. S. darcyi hybrid. 3-4 shrub. Rich green leaves, blue and black fls. S. Microphylla type, vigorous. Bright rose & salmon fls. 3-4 h/6 +w. Textured green leaves, cream flowers. Dwarf habit; purple-tinged leaves, deep blue flowers. Carpeting subshrub. Narrow furry leaves, purple fls.-sprng.
sonomensis Gorda spathacea spathacea King Crimson Starlight Summer Peach TM x superba Blue Hills x superba May Night Tangerine Ballet PPAF uliginosa urica Verona Waverly Whirly Blue Yellow Bird TM Furry grey leaves, blue-purple fls spring. 1 h/4 +w. Dense spreading clumps of fragrant leaves. Magenta flowers. 2-3, large basal lvs; dark magenta fls. on tall stalks. CA native hyb. Grey leaves, long wands of white flowers. S. Bright orange fls w/yellow eye. Profuse bloom. Intense violet blue flowers on stems to 2. Low green lvs. 1-2, full foliage clumps. Leafy stems, violet blue fls. S. Greggii type. Upright, with large tangerine flowers. 4-6 ; slender, upright stems; bright blue flowers. 2-3. Compact leafy form; bright blue purple fls. Large basal leaves; stems 18"+; blue purple flowers. 3-5, leafy. Long clusters, purplish calyx, cream-white fls. Clevelandii hyb. Bright lavender-blue fls, aromatic lvs. S. To 2 +. Uprt growth, dark leaves,large lt yellow flowers. SATUREJA Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Light shade, most soils, moderate watering, hardy to 10deg- douglasii Yerba buena; trailing, with small aromatic leaves. SCUTELLARIA Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Full sun, most soils, moderate watering, hardiness varies pontica Tight dark green mat; spikes of mauve pink fls. siphocampyloides Spreading peren.to 12" high. Blue purple fls, slender stems. suffrutescens Tight shrublet. Grey-green lvs, deep rose pink fls, summer. STACHYS Plant Type(s): Herbaceous Perennials Sun or light shade, most soils, drought tolerant, hardy to 0 deg. or less bullata Hedge nettle. Bright dark pink fls; widely spreading roots. byzantina Helene von Stein Lamb s ears. Matting, with large furry leaves. byzantina Silver Carpet Lamb s ears; Woolly 1-2 stems, lavender-pink flowers. citrina Clumping, light green leaves; lax stems of pale yellow fls. coccinea 2-3, bushy; fuzzy green leaves, bright red flowers. monieri To 2, quilted lvs; bright mauve purple fls. in heads. monieri Snowy To 2, quilted lvs; bright white fls. in dense heads. thirkei Like lamb s ears, but greener, tighter. Mauve fls. TEUCRIUM Plant Type(s): Perennials, Shrubs Sun/lt shade, well-drained soil, moderate water, hardiness varies betonicum 5 shrub. Broad green lvs; mauve fl. spikes, spring. chamaedrys Germander. Low hummock. Dark lvs., small dark pink fls. chamaedrys Prostratum Germander; dark green mat; dense pink flower heads. cussonii (aka majoricum) Low mound with narrow grey leaves, lavender flowers. flavum 1-2 ; deep green toothed leaves, pale yellow flowers. fruticans Bush germander. Silvery leaves. Lavender-blue flowers. fruticans Azureum Bush germander. 3-4 h/4-5 w. Silver lvs, dark blue flowers. fruticans Compactum Bush germander; 2-3, compact; blue flowers. hircanicum 2 +; rough green leaves; spikes of red violet flowers. marum 1 mound; slender stems; pungent grey leaves; pink flowers. montanum Matting, dark grey lvs, lt. yellow fls, dark red buds. polium Woolly white leaves, dense mound. Fat lime buds, yellow fls. pyrenaicum Flat, green mat; round pleated leaves, cream flowers. THYMUS Plant Type(s): Perennials, Shrublets Full sun, well-drained soil, moderate to occ. water, hardiness varies caespititius Tuffet Flat mat. Light green leaves; soft pink flowers. camphoratus 1 tight mound. Dark green aromatic lvs. Rose-pink fls. x citriodorus Argenteus Silver thyme; dense, matting; white-variegation. x citriodorus Lime 4-12". Lime thyme. Dense, low. Lime-green leaves. x citriodorus Sweet Greens S. Lush, low dark green mounds. Lavender pink fls. x citriodorus Variegatus 6-12". Lemon thyme. Dense, variegated, aromatic. hirsutus Soft grey-green lightly hairy lvs stay low; pink flowers. Pink Chintz 3" high. Tight, tiny-leaved mat. Profuse bright pink fls. Rose Williams Dense low aromatic shrublet; grey-green lvs, light pink fls. serpyllum var. albus Mother-of-thyme; flat green mat; white flowers.
serpyllum Elfin Mother-of-thyme. Dense mat, tiny green leaves, pink flowers. TRICHOSTEMA Plant Type(s): Shrubs Full sun, well-drained soil, drought tolerant, hardy to 15 deg. or less lanatum Woolly blue curls; 4 +; purple flower stems, blue flowers. Midnight Magic TM To 2 +. Large purple fls, long bloom. T. lanatum x purpusii. STRINGIA Plant Type(s): Shrubs Full sun, well-drained soil, drought tolerant, hardy to 20-25deg fruticosa To 6, spreading; silvery leaves, white flowers. fruticosa Jervis Gem Rounded, to 2 +, with dark grey lvs; lilac fls., long bloom. fruticosa Morning Light Compact shrub, to 4 +; cream-margined leaves. fruticosa Smokey 2-3. Light, creamy grey rounded shrub; white flowers. glabra 3-4, compact; small dark green leaves, lavender flowers. Wynyabbie Gem To 5 +, spreading. Silvery leaves, lavender flowers.